My heart goes out to the caller who says “go over someone’s house.” I use that construction and I was teased regularly by college roommates. My upbringing was in Philadelphia.

I use it still, so their teasing was ineffective.

2013/07/107:09am

Heimhenge

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Since I don’t recall you ever mentioning anything about being a pilot (or a super hero or detective or inspector) I can only assume this expression includes an implied “to” after the “over,” no? Never heard it in Wisconsin where I grew up, nor here in AZ where I now live. My wife, who also grew up in WI, uses a similarly truncated phrase that at first threw me off. She’d say “I’m going to my sister’s house, and I’ll bring the dog (or whatever) with.” Here it’s an implied “me” after the “with.” She still uses that construction, and after 30+ years of marriage I’ve caught myself using it.

Another I’ve heard is “I’m gonna go by John’s house on the way home.” when the intention is clearly to stop and actually visit.

No doubt all are just examples of the penchant for expedience (a.o.t. expediency or expeditiousness) in American English. Sorta’ like our use of contractions, formal or otherwise. But hey … what’s a little truncation among friends?

2013/07/108:34am

RobertB

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If coming from a police detective, it could sound like he’s purposely testing your reaction as a potential suspect, no? Or like a not so funny joke. A little disconcerting if coming out of a bunch of loitering youths.

2013/07/1210:44am

nelgin

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Did you use a rope or ladder to get up on the roof? (so you could go over their house).

As a kid I would often say, “I’m going over Steve’s”. which may be even more confusing because it doesn’t say what of Steve’s I’m going over. The exceptionally sloppy kids would probably use, “I’m gonna go Steve’s” which may be more of an accurate description.